Elon Musk accused Apple of deliberately keeping X and Grok out of the App Store’s top placements while promoting OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Posting on X last night, Musk called the practice “an unequivocal antitrust violation” and said xAI would take “immediate legal action.” No official lawsuit has been filed so far.
Apple responded in a statement to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. It said the App Store “is designed to be fair and free of bias.” The company added that it features “thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria.” Apple also stressed its goal of “safe discovery for users.” That remark could reference Grok’s recent controversies over antisemitic content and sexualized companion chatbots.
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Musk’s claim faces counterexamples
Musk argued that Apple’s promotion of ChatGPT made it “impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1” in the store. However, Grok when asked itself acknowledged that this is false. In January 2025, DeepSeek reached the number one overall position on the App Store, according to ABC News. Hindustan Times reported that Perplexity also topped India’s App Store in July 2025. Both events occurred only after Apple and OpenAI announced their partnership in June 2024.
The dispute got more attention when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman asked Musk to sign an affidavit. Altman wanted Musk to swear he never directed X’s algorithm to harm competitors or boost his own companies. When a user tagged Grok asking the question about who’s right, it backed Altman’s claims. Grok cited “verified evidence” and referred to 2023 reports and ongoing investigations that accuse Musk of adjusting X’s algorithm to favor his posts and business interests.
Apple stands by its criteria
Apple’s statement indicates it is treating the accusations seriously but sees its app featuring process as neutral and criteria-based. By invoking “safe discovery,” Apple also highlighted its discretion to exclude apps that could pose reputational or user safety risks. This stance places Grok’s content history at the center of the question over whether it meets Apple’s own recommendation standards.
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